Shoe press



May 2,1944'. F, DAWSON 2,348,060`

` SHOE PRESS Filed Jne 2, 1942 6 SheretS-Sheel l F. DAWSON SHOE PRESS May 2, 1944.

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F. DAWSON SHOE PRESS May 2, -1944.

Filed June 2, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Jlwelzwr Fraai Dawsw/ il El?l b Patented May 2, 1944 Fred Dawson,

Compo Shoe Machinery West Roxbury, Mass., assignmto Corporation, Boston,

Mass., a corporation of Delaware Application June 2, 1942, Serial No. 445,432

19 Claims.

This invention relates to presses for use inshoe manufacturing operations and more particularly to a press used for adhesively attaching outsoles to lasted shoe uppers.

A general object of the invention is to provide a sole attaching press into which Vshoes vof varying sizes and shapes may be easily inserted and soles aiiiXed thereto or other pressing operations performed in a rapid and eicient manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe press unit having a dilatable sole pressing diaphragm and power operated shoe clamping devices to clamp a shoe thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoe press with opposed dilatable diaphragms for clamping a shoe and pressing a sole thereto, which are dilated from a common uid pressure source in a desired sequence.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a shoe press unit possessing ther above and other advantageous features which is simple and sturdy in construction and in which a shoe may be clamped and a pressing operation performed thereon with a minimum expenditure of time and effortbythe operator.

lOther objects of the invention will in` part be obvious and willinpart appear hereinafter.

Theinvention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinationv ofelements, and arrangement of partswhich, will be exemplified in the construction, hereinafter set forth and the scope of invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding ofthe nature and objects of the invention referenceshould be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 isA a plan View of a shoe press embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is sectional side elevation of the shoe press shown in Fig. 1, taken substantially along lines2-2 of that figureV and shown in its inflated or shoe pressing condition;

Fig, 3 is a sectional side elevation similar to Fig. 2, but showing the pressin its deflated` condition;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical, sectional View taken substantially alongv lines 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation lookingin the direction of the arrows 5,-5- of Fig. 2, parts being broken away to betterwillustrate the construction;

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectionak view takenV substantially along linestif-'6. of Fig. 2; and,v l

Fig. 7 is a plan View looking at the underside of the press. 4

In the attaching of soles to shoes with an ad# hesive itis general practice to coat the marginal edge of the prepared shoe bottom and outsole with an adhesive and thereafter applyV a solvent or softening agent to the cemented areas and place the parts in proper relation in a shoepreSS ha'V- ing an inflatable had with sufficient vertical eX- pansion to clamp the outsole to the shoe and the shoe to fixed abutments above the pad. While this methodV is fairly satisfactory it requires considerable` attention and effort on the part of the operator to hold the shoe in position until the pad expands suiciently to clamp the shoeaganst its pressure resisting abutments and ofcourse the pad is subjected to a considerable strain due to its excessive Vertical expansion to clamp varying sizes of shoes, resulting in aV short and rather indenite life.

Another commonly used method of adhesively attaching a sole to a shoe utilizes a semi-solid sole pad and pressure is brought'to bear upon the last and shoe to press it and the sole to the pad, which necessitates the use of a movable clamping device which has to be brought into shoe clamping position by the operator prior to the apploationof the sole attaching pressureand thus consumes considerable timeand effort.

The present invention clearly simplifies the attaching of a sole to a shoe in that the manual movement of clamping devices is eliminated and the sole pressing pad does not require any great degree of expansibility, thus operating time and effort is greatly reduced and useful life of the sole pressing pad is materially increased.

Referring to the drawings and first to Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown in thedilated or shoe press.- ing positionan nfiatable shoepress having a base frame casting I0 the central portion of which is cored out at I I and the upper marginal face I2 preferably on a level plane. In superposition and firmly secured to the upper face IZ'by. a somewhat oval shaped clamping ring I3 and.. spaced/bolts I4 are, a flexible lower or shoek clamp operating diaphragm I5;,a rigidV pressure resistingA dividing plate I6 andanuppervor solepressing diaphragm I 'I, thusforming two opposeduid'tiglitj chambers I8 and I9 each havinga flexible and` dilatable diaphragm. yThe central portionr'vof the-dividing plate I6 is preferably. contouredto -thewgeneral shape of a shoe .bottomand the sole pressing diaphragvm If'I inits normal or non-dilated, condition rests thereon` andiassurnesthel same general shape (as shown inFigs. Sand 4), thusl afford,

ing easy placement of a shoe in correct position on the diaphragm.

A simple yet effective arrangement for clamping a shoe and positioned outsole on the diaphragm I1 comprises a toe clamping member 20 having a threaded stem 2| which is screwed into a support 22 slidably mounted on ways 33 provided `on the clamp arm 24. The toe clamping member being lookedin position by the lock nut 25 and the support 22 may be positioned and secured in place with a thumb screw or the like. To allow the toe clamp 20 to be moved towards and away from the diaphragm so as to clamp or Y release a shoe it is freely pivoted on a shaft 26 held in upstanding lugs 21 extending from the base frame IB. Pivoted at 28 to each side of a boss 29 extending transversely of the clamp arm 24 are depending links 30 which at their lower ends pivot on a shaft 3| held in a boss 32 formed on a pressure platen 33. This pressure platen 33 is freely swingable about a shaft 34 held by lugs 35 depending. from the base frame i0 and its forward end is adapted to enter the cored out portion II of the base and is held in contact with the lower diaphragm I 5 by a torsion spring 36.

A similar arrangement is provided for clamping the heel end of the shoe and comprises a last cone abutting member 40 having a stem 4I screw threaded into a beam 42 secured by screws 43 to a bail 44 which straddles the press and which is pivoted at its lower ends'to a shaft 45 held in a boss 45 extending transversely of anotherrpres- 'sure-'platen 41. YThis pressure platen is freely swingable about a shaft 48 held by lugs 49 depending from the Vbase frame I and a torsion 'spring 50centeredon the shaft 48 gives the platen a bias towards the 'lower diaphragm I5. To keep the'bail l44 vin an upright position links 5I are pivoted at 52 to each leg of the bail and at their opposite ends to lugs 53 extending from the base .frame I0.

'It can Vreadily be understood that as long Nas the chamber I8 is not inflated, the diaphragm I5 will lie against the underside of the dividing plate IS and the pressure platens 33 and 41 under their spring bias and by virtue of the connections described will elevateV the toe and heel shoe clamping members 2B and 4%. However, when the lower chamber I8 is inflatedby fluid pressure means hereinafter described the diaphragm I will be dilated and will cause `a'pressure to be exerted 'onthe platens 33 and 41 which have a combined area somewhat greater than the largest shoe bottom'causing themto swing downwardly about their pivots and consequently bring the toe and heel clamping members .into clamping relation with a shoe placed upon therupper diaphragm I1.

An effective arrangement for inflating the chambers I8 and I9, and dilating the diaphragms in a desired sequence to cause the clampingfof a shoe to the upper diaphragm I1 as previously described and to thereafter dilate the upper diaphragm to conform and press the sole to the shoe is best shown in Figs. 2 and 6 and comprises the provision of a boss 50 formed on the under side of the dividing plate I6 and having a bore 6I extending throughout its entirelength. A conventional plungertype inating and deflating valve 62 is screw threaded into the bore 6I where it may be coupledto an air chuck 63 of the type described in the Weiss Patent No. `1,9455'162, and a fluid under selected working pressure be introduced via the bore 6I into the lower chamber I8 thus causing'the diaphragm I5 to dilate and effect clamping of the shoe. As inflation of the lower chamber is continued and thepressure increases a few pounds 1 per square inch above atmospheric pressure, com munication to the upper chamber I9 is afforded by means of an inating port 64 formed in the dividing plate I6 and covered on the upper side by a leaf spring valve 65 secured in place by a screw 66. Thus, as inflation is continued to final sole attaching pressure fluid flowing under pressure in to the lower chamber I8 overcomes the slight resistance of the leaf spring valve 65 and is admitted into the upper chamber I9 causing dilation of the sole pressing diaphragm I1 which conforms to the shape of the shoe bottom and presses the sole thereto.

As the pressure is built up in both upper and lower chambers the pressures tend to equalize and the upper diaphragm I1 rises away from the dividing plate I6 carrying with it the shoe pressed v against the abutments and 4U. This rise of the upper diaphragm continues and the lower diaphragm I5 recedes towards the dividing plate until a state of balance exists i. e., when the press is fully inflated the diaphragmel are spaced from the dividing plate I6 an amount approximately in proportion to the ratio of the area of the shoe being processed and the areas of the platens 33 and 41. As previously stated, the combined areas of the platens 33 and 41 are greater than the largest shoe to be processed, thus, the upper diaphragm I1 never dilates or balloons as much as the lower diaphragm insuring contact of the upper diaphragm with the entire area of the shoe sole.

The press is adapted to be used on a machine such as that described in the aforementioned Weiss patent and deflation of the press is accomplished by depression of the plunger 61 of the valve 62 which allows the fluid to escape from, and the pressure in the lower chamber I8 to decrease, and as it decreases the higher pressure in the upper chamber I9 opens the light leaf spring valve B8 secured on the under side of the dividing plate I6 and covering the deflating port 69 thus allowing the fluid to escape from the upper chamber I9 via the lowerchamber I8 and the valve 62 until the pressures reach atmospheric.

F During such deflation, the diaphragms return to their normal position and the toe and heel clamps are elevated away from the shoe allowing it to be easily removed and another inserted by passing it between the bail 44.

It is to be understood that this description is illustrative and that various changes may Joe made in the structural details and mode of operation without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Thus, the upper chamber I9 may befllled with a liquid and the ports 64 and G9 eliminated sothat as the lower chamber IS is inated the toe and heel clamp will vapply pressure and clamp the shoe to the upper diaphragm displacing the liquid and allowing the diaphragm to 'conform to the'V shape of the shoe bottom. Also each chamber ,may beffitted with an inflating and deflating valve 62 and two air chucks employed to Vinflate the chambers to any desired pressures. A

It is also understood thatvthe following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is: I

1-. In a shoe press the combination comprising, two opposed dilatable diaphragms, operator controlled pressure means for dilati'n'g one of said diaphragms, and automatically operated means for Vthereafter allowing pressure to be applied to the other of said diaphrams to dilate it in an opposite direction. I

v2. In a shoe press the combination comprising, twoY opposed dilatable diaphragms, means de- -pendent upon dilation of one of said diaphragms to clamp a shoe to the other of said diaphragms, operator controlled valve means for dllating one of said diaphragms with a fluid, and Aautomatically operated valve means for thereafter dilating the other of said diaphragms with a fluid.

3. In a shoe press the combination comprising, two opposed dilatable diaphragms, means dependent upon dilation of one of said diaphragms to clamp a shoe to the other of said diaphragms, operator controlled valve means for dilating one of said diaphragms with a duid under pressure, and automatically operated valve means for thereafter dilating the other of said diaphragms with the same fluid.

4. In a shoe press the combination comprising, two opposed dilatable diaphragms, means dependent upon dilation of one of said diaphragms to clamp a shoe to the other of said diaphragms, operator controlled valve means for dilating one of said diaphragms with a fluid under pressure, and valve means automatically operated by said fluid pressure to thereafter allow the other of said diaphragms to be dilated with the same fluid.

5. In a shoe press the combination comprising, a rigid pressure resisting plate, flexible diaphragms secured to each side of said pressure resisting plate so as to form two separate chambers, means for introducing a fluid under pressure into one of said chambers and means for transferring said fluid from one chamber to the other.

6. In a shoe press the combination comprising, a rigid pressure resisting plate, flexible diaphragms secured to each side of said pressure resisting plate so as to form two separate chambers, means for introducing a fluid under pressure into one of said chambers, means for transferring some of said fluid to the other of said chambers and means for exhausting the fluid from both chambers.

7. In a shoe press the combination comprising, a rigid pressure resisting plate, flexible diaphragms secured to each side of said pressure resisting plate so as to form two separate chambers, means for introducing a fluid under pressure into one of said chambers and means acting when a definite pressure is reached to allow fluid to enter the other of said chambers.

8. In a shoe press the combination comprising, a rigid pressure resisting plate, flexible diaphragms secured to each side of said pressure resisting plate so as to form two separate chambers, operator controlled means for inflating one of said chambers to dilate its diaphragm, means operated automatically by said inflation to thereafter allow inflation of the other of said chambers to dilate its diaphragm and means for deiiating both of said chambers.

9. In a shoe press the combination comprising, a rigid pressure resisting plate, flexible diaphragms secured to each side of said pressure resisting plate so as to form separate upper and lower chambers, operator controlled means for introducing a fluid under pressure into said lower chamber to cause dilation of its diaphragm, valve means associated with said pressure resisting ing said sole pressing diaphragm to press an outsole against the shoe clamped to it.

11. In a shoe .press the combination comprising, a. dilat'able sole pressing diaphragm and a dilatable clamp operating diaphragm, shoe 'clamping means disposed over said sole pressing diaphragm and movable to clamp a shoe thereto by dilation of said clamp operating diaphragm, means for dilating said clamp operating dia-- phragm with a fluid under pressure and means for thereafter 'dilating said sole pressing diaphragm with 'the same fluid pressure to press an outsole 'against the Vshoe clamped to it.

12. In a shoe press the combination comprising, a b'ase member, two flexible diaphragms separated'by 'a rigid pressure resisting plate secured to said base member forming upper and lower inflatable chambers, shoe clamping means disposed over said upper chamber and movable to clamp a shoe to its diaphragm, connections from said shoe clamping means contacting the diaphragm of said lower chamber, a valve connected with said lower chamber for inflating it with a fluid to dilate its diaphragm and thereby cause said clamping means to clamp a shoe to the diaphragm of said upper chamber and means associated with said pressure resisting plate and automatically operated by pressure in said lower chamber to allow fluid to pass from said lower chamber to said upper chamber to dilate its diaphragm and press it against the bottom of the shoe clamped thereto.

13. In a shoe press the combination comprising, a base member, two flexible diaphragms separated by a rigid pressure resisting plate secured to said base member forming upper and lower inflatable chambers, shoe clamping means disposed over said upper chamber and movable to clamp a shoe to its diaphragm, connections from said shoe clamping means contacting the diaphragm of said lower chamber, a valve connected with said lower chamber for inflating it with a fluid to dilate its diaphragm and thereby cause said clamping means to clamp a shoe to the diaphragm of said upper chamber, means associated with said pressure resisting plate and automatically operated by pressure in said lower chamber to allow fluid to pass from said lower chamber to said upper chamber to dilate its diaphragm and press it against the bottom of the shoe clamped thereto, and means for deilating both of said chambers.

14. In a shoe press the combination comprising, a base member, two flexible diaphragms separated by a rigid pressure resisting plate secured to said base member forming upper and lower inflatable chambers, shoe clamping means comprising separate toe and heel clamps disposed above said upper chamber and independently movable towards its diaphragm to clamp a shoe thereto, two platens pivoted to said base member for swinging movement towards and away from the diaphragm ofl said lower chamber, connectionsv between said platens and said shoe clamping. means, springs urging said shoe V'clamping means away from its diaphragm, means for infiating said lower chamber with a fluid to dilatev its diaphragm and thereby cause swinging movement of said platens and movement of said shoe clamping means to clampv a shoe to the diaphragm of saidupper chamber, means automatically operated by pressure in said lower chamber to allow iiuid to pass into said upperfchamber to dilate its diaphragm and cause it to press against the bottom of a shoe held by said clamping means and'4 means for deflating both of said chambers.

15. In a shoe press the combination comprising, two opposed dilatable diaphragms, shoe clamping means movablydisposed above one of said diaphragms, means in Contact with the other of said diaphragms for moving said clamping means, and means for dilating both of said diaphragms with a fluid.

16. In a shoe press the combination comprising, Atwo opposed dilatable diaphragms, shoe' clamping means movably disposed above one of said diaphragms, means in Contact with the other of said diaphragms for moving said clamping means,` operator controlled valve means for dilating one of said diaphragms with a fluid and automatic valve means for thereafter dlating Vthe other diaphragm with a fluid.

Vclamping means disposed above one of said diaphragms and movable to clamp a shoe thereto, means associated with the other of said diafphragms for actuating said clamping means,

and means for Ydilating each of said diaphragms in a definite sequence.

. 18; In a shoe press the combination comprising; two opposed Vdilatable diaphragms, shoe clamping means disposed over one of said diaphragms, means dependent upon dilation of the other` of said diaphragms for actuating said Clamping means, and means for dilating each of said diaphragms in a definite sequence.

19, In a shoe press the combination comprising, a frame, two opposed dilatable diaphragms secured to said frame, shoe clamping means supported by said frame for movement towards and away from one of said diaphragms, means for moving said clamping means supported by said frame for movement toward and away from the other of said diaphragms, and means for dilating each of said diaphragms with a fluid under pressure.

FRED DAWSON. 

